A Quart of Ale (continued)
A Quart of Ale (continued) - Roland Raffell - April 2025
In nineteenth century Southam it was recognised that there were ‘… drunkards who go in and get drunk week after week. They are known ...
A Quart of Ale
A Pint of Ale - Roland Raffell - March 2025
‘For a Quart of Ale is a Dish for a King.’ (Shakespeare, The Winter’s Tale IV: ii). For centuries, drinking ale has always been a ...
The Origins of Workhouse Support in Southam
The Origins of Workhouse Support in Southam - Roland Raffell - Nov 2024
Before 1601, poverty was an issue for the country that had never really been addressed successfully, particularly when connected to beggars and vagrants. Despite the use ...
Old Road Names
Old Road Names - Linda Doyle - Aug 2024
As one researches through old Southam records, certain road and place names are easy to understand as they are quite logical. It is easy to follow ...
Southam Zoo
Southam Zoo - Linda Doyle - Oct 2023
I moved to Southam in October 1975 and was interested to find the Zoo on the Daventry Road on the edge of town. It had been open to the public since 1966 ...
The ‘Battle’ of Southam 1775
The 'Battle' of Southam 1775 - Dr Roland Raffell - Sept 2023
In 1774 the building of the Oxford Canal reached Napton. The canal was routed around three sides of Napton Hill to save building ...
Nuisances in Southam
Nuisances in Southam - April 2023 - Dr Roland Raffell
We have all doubtless suffered from ‘nuisances’ in our lives; however, we might like to spare a thought for our ancestors and neighbours living in Southam and the surrounding villages in the nineteenth ...
Southam Union Workhouse
Southam Union Workhouse - Feb 2023 - Dr Roland Raffell
On the site of Southam Primary School in Welsh Road West, Southam, there once stood a red bricked and imposing Victorian building known at the time as Southam Union Workhouse. Built in 1837 ...
Water, Water
Cardall's Corner - Oct 2022 - Linda Doyle
We tend to take our supply of clean water for granted, and only realise how important it is to us in times of drought. However, it is less ...
Little Nuggets
Little Nuggets - Aug 2022 - Bernard Cadogan
Anyone interested in local history (and who isn’t, especially as one gets older), is fascinated to find interesting old documents they never knew existed, and discover ...
Captain Emery of The Grange
Capt Emery of The Grange - July 2022 - Linda Doyle and Bill Griffin
The Grange on Coventry Road was built in the early 19th Century on land called The Springs. A Grade II listed building, it is cement rendered brick ...
When I went to the Coronation
When I went to the Coronation - June 2022 - The late Rene Cardall (abridged)
When King George VI died in 1952, there followed a year’s preparation for Queen Elizabeth II’s Coronation on June 2nd 1953. I went into London ...